US2288569A - Protection of economic crops - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l D. B. MASON ETAL PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC GROPS Filed Oct. 31, 1938 June 30, 1942.

June 30, V1942.

D. B. MASON ETAL PROTECTION 0F ECONOMIC CROPS l Filed Oct. 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ,June 30, 1942 i UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE PROTECTION or Economo onora Donald Bentley Mason, Westport, Conn., and

Paul Donald Peterson, Highland Park, N. J., assignors to Freeport Sulphur Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation o! Delaware spplieauon october 31, 193s, serial No. zss,o 5s"f 'I Claims. (Cl. 21-115) Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way `of illustration andexplanation only, and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. In connection with that more detaileddescription, there is shown in the accompanying drawings, in i Figure l, a vertical cross section through a sulphur burner constructed in accordance with the present invention; in l 'l Figure'2, a modiiied` form of,` such sulphur burner; in

Figure 3, a sulphur vaporizer constructed inA accordance with the present invention; in

Figure 4, a section on the line I--l oflFigure l; in

Figure aside elevational view of a sulphur burner of the character shown in Figures 1,-3 of the drawings mounted on a truck; in

i a enabling such methodsto be readily carried out.

on the growing plants in the ileld, and such mechanisms also make possible the ready application of gases and vaporsvor. other materials, which have not heretofore been applicable directly to growing plants under field conditions. j

`In a'ccordancewith the present invention, the material to beutilized to treat the'plants,v or to eliminate weeds, or for. other purposes, iseonverted into a gaseous, vaporous, orl'mist form, and in said' sub-divided condition is applied d1- rectly to the lplantv under fieldV conditions.v In

accordance with the presentinvention, the appllcation of sulphur '-,vapors or v sulphur dioxidecontaining gases applied to the growing plants under field conditions will-` be utilized to illustrate the present invention, without -any intended limitation, since Vthev methodsv of the .present case, and the apparatus and structures enabling such methods to be utilized, may also be employed inthe application lofany desired type of material that can be readily converted into a gasifled condition. The term sulphurous gases will be utilized herein to coversulphur vapors or sulphur VAdioxide gases or similar materials derived from sulphur.

Sulphurous gases lend themselves readilyto utilization for the treatment of plants under field conditions, since such sulphurous gasesincluding both-sulphur vapors, and sulphur dioxide-containing gases, may be readily and.- economically produced and utilized for such purposes. The sulphur dioxide may thus be gener- Figure 6, a plan view of thestructure shown.

in Figure 5; and in Figure '7, a detail of the discharge mechanism including means for'restricting the atmosphere in which the vapors and gases discharge when the discharge mechanism operates, l

In accordance with -the present invention, growing plants, particularly of the nature of economic crops, are protected by direct applica-4 tion thereto in the eld of the desired gases and vapors or other materials which are to' be applied to the plants for any of various purposesv moulding the restriction of weed growth, or the ,entireY elimination of Weeds, the application voi. The structures parasiticidal compositions, etc. of thepresent invention enable ready application of the desired material tobe madefin' situ ated and utilized particularly'for the control of,

weed growth in economic crops, and is particularly useful in reducing or entirely eliminating weed infestation of grain `or cereal elds, the sulphur dioxide acting as a general herbicide for the control-of weeds. Cereal cropsthat may thus be treated include barley, etc., buty other economic cropssuch as onions and-so on may also be protected in accordance with the present invention. While 'the sulphur dioxide in such `cases acts primarily as aherbicide, it also undoubtedly affects atleast a partial control in the prevention or elimination of grain diseases; Among the weeds which may thus be reduced or' eliminated by the utilization ofsuch sulphur di-l oxide, there` may be particularly mentioned'mustard, wild -radish,wi1d lettuce, Russian thistle,

dock, Shepherds purse, etc. Not only is there a direct elimination of or reduction in the growth of such weeds, but since certain Weeds are known to be hosts for parasiticidal insects, the elimination of the weed al'so eliminatesto a large extent the possibility of infestationduel tofsuch insects'.

While the use of sulphur dioxide is set forth above as illustrative generally of herbicide materials which can beutlized in accordance with the present invention, other parasiticidal compositions may be applied to the growing plants in the field, and the utilization of sulphur in vaporous condition illustratesthis phase of the invention. The sulphur is utilized in this way for purposes analogous to those in which sulphur has heretofore been dusted on economic plants.

In the utilization of sulphur vapors or sulphur dioxide-containing gases in the treatment of crops under field conditions, the desired sulphurous gases may be generated in any desired Way and applied to the plants. vFor example, the sulphur may be converted into molten condition and vaporized by the application of substantially non-oxidizing gases blown through or over the molten sulphur to carry vapors away from that material, which sulphur-containing gases may then be deposited in situ on the growing plants. Where sulphur dioxide-containing gases are desired, an oxidizing gas may be blown through or over the molten sulphur at a temperature sufficient to produce oxidation of the sulphur and togenerate the sulphur dioxide-containing gases which can then be led to the discharge device for delivery at the plant areas. Of course, any other means for producing the sulphur vapors or sulphur dioxide-containing` gases canbe employed. Thus sulphur dioxide in liquefied condition supplied in drums can be utilized, and the gases permittedl to escape from the drum through a reducing valve in the usual way, but connected to a distributor of the character particularly hereinafter described for application directly to the plants inl situ.

In the application of sulphurous gases or other -gases and vapors to the plants under field conditions, it is desirable to insure a direct application of the sulphurous or other gases or vapors to the plant areas. For herbicides of the character of sulphur dioxide, it is also desirable to have such herbicide applied under conditions where it will reach the Weed plant growing amongst the economic crops. More desirably, therefore, in the utilization of such sulphurous or other gases and vapors, the materials are supplied and delivered to the plants under eld conditions in more or less restricted atmospheres. Thus the plants may be temporarily covered as by means of tarpaulins or similar covering elements, and the gases and vapors admitted under the tarpaulins or similar-elements, whereby the sphere of action of the sulphurous or other gases and vapors is restricted and controlled, and losses materially reduced. Desirably in such utilizations the application of the sulphurous gases can be made by means of portable devices designed to run through the field containing the economic crops, and the sulphur or sulphur dioxide generators may, therefore, desrably be employed in conjunction with portable tarpaulin or similar element, so that as the tarpaulin or other covering element is drawn across the field, or over portions thereof in which the crops are growing, there is at the same time the application of the vapors and gases of desired treating material.

' An economical and simple sulphur burner that can be utilized in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. In Figure 1, a-'vertical chamber I of columnar type may desirably be utilized having a base 2 and cover 3. The chamber I is desirably stacked with a filling material such as re brick 4, loosely packed therein. 'Ihe cover 3, desirably carries a hopper 5 .hinged thereto, as shown at 6, which hopper serves to retain sulphur or similar material, the bottom Iof the hopper being perforated to enable molten sulphur or similar material to percolate therethrough onto the fire brick 4, which during operation is maintained at a temperature sucient to insure the presence of molten sulphur, either to produce sulphur vapors or sulphur dioxide, depending on the conditions as hereinafter explained. The upper portion of the column I is provided with a series of openings 8 for the admission of air, a collar 9 protecting such openings being carried by the upper portion of the column. In addition, a shield I0 frictionally engaging against the collar 9 may be utilized to provide by simple means a longer path for travel of the entering air into contact with the Walls of the chamber I, such air under operating conditions being pre-heated by its contact with the walls of the chamber I, and the degree of pre-heat being controllable by the position of the shield I0. The gasesor vapors formed in the chamber I may be withdrawn through the discharge outlet II to a discharge device hereinafter described.

In -the utilization of a sulphur burner of the character shown in Figure 1 for the production of sulphur dioxide-containing gases, 'the flre brick is desirably heated to a point where the sulphur in the hopper 5 is melted, and drips down over the heated fire bricks. Air entering the chamber through the openings 8, which air may be blown through or drawn through such chamber, in contact with the molten sulphur causes oxidationof the latter with the production of sulphur dioxide-containing gases. Generally the combustion of the sulphur produces suiiicient heat to maintain the column at the desired temperature. To initiate the operation, the re brick may be heated in any desired way, but a simple means is to throw back the hopper to open the column, and then to introduce some charcoal in the upper portion of the column, which charcoal .is sprinkled with gasoline or kerosene and ignited. The blower or other device is then started to cause a current of aix passing through the column l, and the heat from the burning charcoal is drawn down through the broken fire brick. The hopper is returned to its normal position, and sulphur dumped into it. The heat from the burning charcoal causes the sulphur to melt and drip over the charcoal and the heated bricks. After being initiated in this way, the sulphur acts both as a 'source of sulphur dioxide and as the fuel for keeping the re brick hot, and generally no further charcoal need be used unless the burner is permitted to cool down below the melting point of sulphur. Occasionally it is desirable to supply some additional charcoal from time to time to accelerate the burning rate, particularly during very windy weather, or under cold conditions. The burning rate can also be accelerated by lowering the shield or hood that surrounds the burning tube, so that the air enters within this shield or hood I0 at a lower point, and traveling against the walls of the chamber l for a, longer distance is heated to a higher temperature before entering the columnar chamber I.

A modified form of sulphur burner is shown in Figure 2. In this form of device, the chamber consists of a columnar vessel 2l, having the base 22 and cover 23, the chamber 2l carrying broken :tire brick 24, or similar material. The hopper 25 having the perforated bottom 21 is providedfor holding sulphur or similar material. Such hopper may-be hinged tothe cover 23 in a manner analogous `to that described ingconnectlonvwith the device of Figure 1. .Openings 23 permit the u entry of air into'the chamber 2|, a collar and shield 23 Vand 33 respectively being` supplied analogous to that described above in connectionwith the structure of Figure 1. Near the base of the chamber 2|, a discharge opening 3| leads to the conduit 32 'connecting with a second column 33, the broken lire brick 24 or similar material is essential.

IA burner of the character of that shown in Figure 2 may, however, `be readily employed by simple modification for use as a sulphur vaporizer, as illustrated in Figure 3. The only changes necessary in the structure of Figure 2 in order to convert it into the sulphur vaporizer illustrated inFigure 3 is to provide an open o endedhopper`43 for the first columnar chanber 2|, and a sulphur typehopper` 4| forthe ond columnar chamber 33. In this event, charcoal is continuously supplied through the hopper 43 into the upper portion of the columnar changer 2|, and initially ignited inthe manner set forth above in' describing the operation of the ,sulphur burner of Figure 1, so that the air vdrawn into the chamber 2| through the opening 23 isutilized for causing combustion of the .charcoal maintained in column 2|, which thereby maintains the temperature of the broken fire brick 24 inthe bottom of these columns. The heat of the burning charcoal `maintains the temperature. desired in the nre brick 24, and such combustion also substantially eliminates oxygen `from they'gases drawn through these columnar chambers. Consequently, u o columnar chamber 33 are substantially free from oxygen and do not cause any combustion. The heated iire brick 24 serves to melt the sulphur in the hopper 4|, which sulphur then drops onto the heated fire brick 24 in the column 33, and the non-oxidizing gases circulating through the chamber 33 deliver such sulphur vapors with practically no sulphur dioxide through `the out` let 36 and conduit 31 to the blower 33 to be discharged through the outlet 33 to any desired distributing device. The utilization of` a sulphur.

burner of the character of' Figure 2 enables its ready conversion into a sulphur vaporizer as shown in Figure 3, and consequently where both or crops in any desired way. Where such gases andvapors are generated by portable devices of the character illustrated and described in Fig-` tres 1-3. such devices may be carried on -a truck, automobile, or, by means of a tractor throughout the iield where the plants or crops are to be prothe gases `entering the second V,so that lno `further description in this connection u y u 3 tected, and the issuing gases -or vapors directed upon or into contact with the crops by any desired means. `Thus as shown in Figures 5,-7, a sulphur burner, such as that shown in Figure 1, may be mounted on the truck 42, carrying the blower equipment also `connected by the conduit 31 with the discharge outlet of the burner I, the blower 33 delivering the vapors and gases through the discharge outlet 33 into the pipe 43 connected to the header 44. The header may be supported inposition by means of angle iron channel members 45. The header may be made in several sections as indicated depending on its length. The header is provided with a number of orifices or openings 46 for the reception 'of nipples 41 through which the gases or vapors from the header are discharged. Desirably, the gases and vapors are passed into ilexible tubes 43 attached to the nipples 41, which exible tubes are elongated andi` of/ a length suilicient to rest on the ground as indicated' at 49 in Figure '7. The use of such flexible.' elongated tubes 'directs the vapors and gases into' direct contact .with the plants `and surface of the ground directly contiguous thereto. `In order to restrict the atmosphere into which such gases and vaporsaredirected, a tarpaulin 53 may desirably be carried over the discharge ends of the tubular members 43, such tarpaulin 53 being attached as by means 30 of ropes 5I' to the header, so that movement of the Ytruck carries ,the tarpaulin in its relative position with respect to the outlets of the discharge tubes 43 throughout the periodof treatment. Desirably also a weighted element 52 of a length to extend across the entire bank of discharge tubes 43 may be employed carried by means of ropes 53 attached to the header 44. The weighted element 52 pressing against the tubeoutlet maintains the tubes in the desired position close to the ground, and also maintains thetarpaulin 53 in position over the ends of the lltubular members 48. The type of distributing element thus referred toand described in connection with Figures 5-7 is particularly useful in maintaining the application of the desired gases and vapors in direct proximity to the plants or crops undergoing treatment. the tarpaulin restricting the atmosphere. within which the vapors and gases are ditions. While the use 'of sulphur vapors or sulphur dioxide-containing gases is particularly emphasized, and give particularly important re u sults in the protection of crops against insects vand structures may be utilized for the dissemina-` tion of other vapors and gases and other materials desired into contact with plants under growing conditions prevailingfin the field.

The present methods and devices lend themselves to the utilization of any desired parasiticidal, insecticidal, fungicidal or cther treating material for applicationto plants. While sulphur-containing materials, such as vaporized sulphur and sulphur dioxide containing gases have been particularly referred to above, these methods and devices can also be Vutilized in the dissemination of nicotine, -eitherby itself orfin combination with sulphur as, for example, by merely permitting the desired nicotine lmaterial to drip into the second column of the sulphur vaporizer. If nicotine alone is dripped into this column, then nicotine vapors will, oi course, be for'med, whereas if both nicotine and sulphur are admitted to the sulphur vaporizer, mixed vapors of those materials will be produced. Similarly naphthalene or sulphur-naphthalene mixtures may be utilized by the disclosed methods and devices in the treatment of plants.

While the method particularly lends itself for utilization for parasiticidal purposes, it has a variety of other uses which apply both to the methods and the devices set forth herein. For example, defoliation may be artificially carried out by the utilization of the methods and devices set forth herein. Early defoliation is sometimes desired, particularly in nurseries, and the methods and devices of the present invention particularly lend themselves to such utilization. Such defoliation carried out'in accordance with the present invention avoids the difficulties that arise in attempted use with liquid sprays.

Furthermore, the methods of the present invention may be utilized in connection with the treatment of weeds where no growing crop is involved. For example, these methods may be employed for killing weeds on railroad road beds by the application, for exam-ple, of sulphur dioxide, desirably utilized under such conditions as to kill all plants to the ground level.

the duration of the treatment, or both, as compared with the conditions of differential kill employed where weeds are being destroyed in a grain field. In explanation of this, it may be pointed out that where for purposes of a differential kill, the truck may travel at the rate of approximately one mile per hour, burning sulphur at the rate of approximately 30 pounds per hour, and using a canvas drag 2O x 20 feet, under which conditions, such common weeds as Polygonum, Amaranthus, Chenopcdium, Stellaria media, and several species of wild mustard may be killed without permanent damage to `such crops as bar- For these purposes, it is desirable to increase the intensity or ley, oats, rye and wheat. Where, however, plant L kill is desired, as along railroad tracks and in analogous places, the intensity of the kill may be increased by various expedients as, for example, by repetition of the treatment, or by increasing the rate of burning sulphur, or by traveling at a slower rate of speed, or by increasing the length of the canvas drag, or by any desired combination of such factors. By the utilization of 'such methods, a substantially complete kill of all the exposed parts of plants above the ground level may be obtained, whereas on the other hand by making the treatment less drastic, the more sensitive plants out of a mixed population of growing plants may be eliminated. The method, therefore, readily lends itself to .the'use of a herbicide for eradicating weedy growth, as well as to the other utilizations set forth above.

A particularly important feature of the present invention is the fact that it lends itself to continuous use. The devices and methods of the present invention instead ofV being limited to batch application, althoughof course they may be utilized as batch processes, enable continuous generated for treatment of the plants, particularly in situ. Y

Having thus set forth our invention, we claim:

1. A device capable of being portably mounted on a vehicle for delivering. sulphurous gases to growing plants comprising a column, a filling material in said column, means for heating said filling material, a hopper for sulphur in heat e1- change relation with said column whereby sulphur melted in said hopper by heat from the nlling material may now onto said heated filling material, and means for delivering sulphurous gases from said column.

2. A device capable of being portably mounted on a vehicle for delivering sulphurous gases to growing plants comprising a chamber for burning charcoal, a second chamber into which sulphur may be introduced, a hopper for sulphur in heat exchange relation with said second chamber and communicating therewith, a filling material in said second chamber, means for passing heated gases from the nrst chamber into the lsecond chamber to heat the filling material therein whereby sulphur is melted and flows from said hopper into said second chamber, and means for discharge of sulphurous gases from the second chamber.

3. Apparatus capable of being portably mounted on la vehicle for generating sulphurous gases which comprises a container carrying refractory material, means for heating said refractory material, a hopper for sulphur in heat exchange relation with said container whereby sulphur melted in said hopper by heat from the refractory vmaterial may flow onto said refractory material, means for directing a gaseous stream therethrough to remove sulphurous gases, and` means for discharging said sulphurous gases.

4. A device capable of being portably mounted on a vehicle for delivering sulphurous gases `to growing plants comprising a column, a materialv in said column, means for heating said filling material, a sulphur hopper removably mounted atop said column to form a closure therefor, the bottom of said hopper communicating with the column whereby sulphur melted in said hopper by heat from the lling material may flow onto the filling material, and means-fordelivering sulphurous gases from said column.

5. In a portable device mounted on a vehicle for delivering sulphurous gases to growing plants in the field, a column, a filling material in said column, means for heating said filling material, a hopper hingedly mounted atop said column to form a closure therefor, the bottom of said hopper having openings permitting communication between the hopper and the column whereby sulphur melted in said hopper by heatl from the filling material may flow onto the filling material, and means for delivering sulphurous gases from said column. 6. In a portable device capable of being mounted on a vehicle for delivering sulphur va- I pors to growing plants in the field, a container, refractory material in said container, means for heating said refractory material, a hopper for sulphur in heat exchange relation with said container whereby sulphur melted in said hopper by heat from the refractory material may now onto said refractory material, meansv for directing a stream of non-oxidizing gases through the container to remove sulphur vapors, and means for discharging said sulphur vapors.

7. In a portable device capable of being mounted on a vehicle for delivering sulphur dioxide gases to growing plants in the field, a conmeans for directing a stream of oxidizing gases tainer, refractory material in said container, through the container to form and remove sulmeans 'for heating said refractory material. a phur dioxide gases, and means for discharging hopper for sulphur in heat exchange relation said sulphur dioxide gases.

with said container whereby sulphur melted in 5 l said hopper by heat from the refractory mate- DONALD BENTLEY MASON. rial may ow onto said refractory material, PAUL DONALD PETERSON.

Images